Kenwyne Jones scored a last-gasp winner as Cardiff managed to avoid the ignominy of failing to turn a two-goal lead into a win for the third home game in the row as they edged Brentford 3-2 in the SkyBet Championship.
The Bluebirds had been cruising when Tony Watt tapped in his second goal for the club in the 20th minute as the Bees defence failed to clear a Craig Noone shot, and the Scottish striker then teed up Jones for the second.
However, skipper Jake Bidwell pulled one back for the visitors and Cardiff's nerves told as Jon Swift slotted in an equaliser with four minutes to go.
But Jones slid home Fabio's cross in stoppage time to the relief of the home support.
Brentford had entered the game on the back of just one defeat in their previous 10 games, but they hardly looked a team in good form during the first half.
From the off Cardiff assumed control
Anthony Pilkington went close when Noone's cross found him unmarked at the far post, but his header landed on top of the crossbar with David Button beaten.But there was no reprieve for Brentford as Watt scored the opener
The visitors failed to clear a corner and when Noone's volley rebounded off Tarkowski and Nico Yennaris, the Cardiff striker was on hand to bundle the ball home. The former Celtic man was heavily involved in the second as he brilliantly set up Jones to put the hosts in command.
A loose ball in midfield broke Watt's way just inside the Cardiff half and he set off towards the Brentford goal.He nutmegged Jack O'Connell to go in on goal, and unselfishly rolled the ball across goal for Jones to finish at the second attempt after Button saved his initial effort.
Slade's men had been in exactly this situation in their previous home games against Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday, and had only managed to pick up a point on each occasion. Bees boss Dean Smith had clearly been unimpressed by what he had seen during the opening 45 minutes and sent his side out early for the second half.It made little difference initially
Joe Ralls volleyed wide after linking with the impressive Watt on the edge of the area, with Button then saving superbly from the striker after he drove into the area. But the atmosphere changed in the 67th minute when left-back Bidwell easily nodded in Alan Judge's corner at the far post.Cardiff began to panic and within seconds Lasse Vibe had been sent racing towards David Marshall's goal, only for Matt Connolly to cover brilliantly to make a desperate last-ditch tackle as the home side held on.
However, Marshall could not hold Judge's shot, and Swift prodded home the rebound, only for Jones to spare Cardiff blushes in dramatic fashion.